User reviews

Polite Society

The title gives no clue to the great comedy romp this movie turned out to be, it was great from start to finish with some great acting, great action sequences, stolen from crouching tiger hidden dragon and great characters.

The school scenes were my favourite bits, clearly a very nice private girls school with the usual set of swats, bullies and disciplinarian teachers crushing dreams to left and right. My second favourite bit was a gym sequence it was inspired.

I loved the music the camerawork and the crisp editing, it is very difficult to find many faults so I just won't,

I'm giving this a firm 8 outta 10, it was so good I watched it twice.

What a fun movie!

Charismatic main character with an idiotic plan and then everything turns to circus.

Production wise, everything works. Acting is solid, stunts are good.

It's not the most impressive movie and it doesn't needs to be. It's fun enough, they did everything right. It needed a bit more to be really big, tho.

But hey, I can bet they can make a sequel that's even better. And I hope they do, and make many more with the main characters, because this was fun and most movies today are not fun, even when they try to be.

I was marginally interested in this movie but now I'm glad I watched it, so I can recommend it if you want some lighthearted fun.

Polite Society starts off in a fairly standard way. Two sisters, very close, then one of them gets engaged to be married, which leaves the younger sister feeling a little deserted. So far, so normal. You can immediately see how the plot will develop. Younger sister tries to break up the couple, falls out with older sister, but then has an epiphany and discovers her future brother in law is a wonderful person and everyone hugs and lives happily ever after. Deception that's not what happens. It kind of does for a while, but gets progressively more and more surreal. Many will watch this movie and think it went totally off the rails. But I just found myself laughing - partly because it was, yes, silly, but mainly because it was fun. And we didn't really need another predictable "boy meets girl and other girl/boy gets upset" movie, did we?

Written and directed by Nida Manzoor, who created the brilliantly funny TV series We Are Lady Parts, Polite Society is a decidedly nutso film heavily influenced by nutso martial arts movies, among other things. The story is wild and the comedy is wacky, but it's also heartfelt, with relatable, emotionally believable characters.

This movie takes place in a world of its own, in a genre of its own, and it moves through that world with a wonderful sense of style and confidence.

I knew I wanted to see this movie when I saw who directed it, but I also knew I wanted to see this movie when I saw the trailer. The trailer is wild and funny and crazy and the movie completely lives up to it.

Highly recommended.

After having watched the trailer a loooooooong time ago, now that it's on streaming, I finally got around to watching this very entertaining, slightly over-the-top, action-comedy.

Ria Khan (younger sister) wants to be a stuntwoman in an ethnic household in Britain and thinks her elder sister's wedding is being rushed, therefore is sus.

This film is the perfect kind of crazy and quirky for a lazy background content that I actually enjoyed (stopped grading papers and paid attention) more than I thought I would; didn't think this was for me, but I didn't mind it at all.

Even if you can't relate to the angsty-teenager or to the sisterly chemistry in the film, (you can perhaps relate to the cultural upbringing and the pressures that come along with it) it's still fun and surely worth a one-time watch. I'd surely watch it again with someone who's not watched it and I think I'll still enjoy it.

The story here is quite rudimentary; calling it bizarre or far-fetched would not be an exaggeration, but the way it's been told and the manner in which its eccentricities are presented, or rather, celebrated, is a treat to watch. I was entertained for the whole duration; not once was I driven to distraction or felt an urge to look away from my television, a testimony to its engrossing narration and impressive screenwriting.

Don't worry, I didn't forget the performances; it would be a crime not to say a few words for them. First of all, I want to say, What fantastic casting! Each member of the ensemble played their part with lots of passion and commitment.

Nimra Bucha plays the antagonist, and she does an excellent job. So it was with Ritu Arya as Lena, who plays the gullible but fierce elder sister with grace. Then there's Priya Kansara, the undisputed star of the show. What an astonishing act! Priya commanded every frame she popped up in, and she did so with grace and elegance; it is one of my favourite performances of this year so far.

I sense the makings of a cult classic.

Greetings again from the darkness. If you have ever wondered what it might look like if Quentin Tarantino consulted on a modernized Pakistani version of Jane Austen ... well, writer-director Nida Manzoor shows us (with no actual assistance from QT), including stylized martial arts, class warfare, and an obsession with a stuntwoman career. It's Ms. Manzoor's first feature film (she created the TV series "We are Lady Parts") and she presents an extremely creative film with a balance of silly and dark themes that proves immensely entertaining.

Relative newcomer Priya Kansara stars as Ria, a private school student highly determined to achieve her goal of becoming a working stuntwoman. She remains laser-focused on this despite her teacher and parents laughing off such nonsense and re-directing her towards becoming a doctor. Ria also adores her older sister Lena (Rita Arya), although worried about her since she recently dropped out of art school and seems to be rudderless in life.

Things change quickly for everyone once rich mama's boy/doctor Salim (Akshay Khanna) begins courting Lena. Ria senses things aren't right with the relationship and is also convinced that Lena should resume her dreams of being artist, rather than being pursued by the handsome, rich, too-good-to-be-true suitor. Ria and her best friends Clara (Seraphina Beh) and Alba (Ella Bruccoleri) scheme to undercut the relationship, but they are no match for Salim's mother (a terrific Nimra Bucha), who sports the best evil Grinch grin you've ever seen.

Director Manzoor divides the film into five chapters: A tale of two sisters, EID Soiree, Operation Wife Hunter, Assault on Shah mansion, and The Wedding. Each chapter offers comedy and action, and a matching of Ria's wits and instincts against the plans and beliefs of others. Ms. Kansara impresses as an upstart female Jackie Chan with superior acting chops. She executes the physical martial arts sequences beautifully, yet also shows promise in the quieter, more intimate moments when emoting and dialogue matter. She is certainly one to watch ... as is filmmaker Nida Manzoor. Anyone who can entertain at this level deserves the opportunity to do so as frequently as possible.

Opening in theaters on April 28, 2023.

This movie really doesn't know what it wants to be. I get what they are trying to do but it ends up cliched, predictable and silly beyond what I was willing to accept because of poor execution. I see it copying styles from far better films like the Cornetto trilogy and Bend it like Beckham. Actors are fine. The lead is good and supported by two actors as her friends that add good comedic value. The rest of the cast is fine nothing special. But they all deserved better.

I was having fun to start with, it's meant to be a silly fun comedy, but ended up annoyed about choices and lack of originality. I can't help but to think that somewhere there is a version of this that could have been very good.

5 stars.

What a blast! I went into this movie without knowing anything about it and left super jazzed. I want to call this film "quirky" but that's not the right word for it. "Absurd", "strange" and "unique" are all more appropriate, but in the best way.

While the story isn't anything remarkable, the characters and self-awareness of this film elevate it. The quick cuts and editing are excellently done and add to the humor. The action is strong, while also giving Nacho Libre vibes. Ria's friends are a highlight and Nimra Bucha is a perfect mother-in-law character.

Best Character: Clara and Alba Best Quote: "Heavenly Father, give me strength" - Alba Best Scene: Sister Fight Best Piece of Score: "I am the Fury"

An ingenious, infectious & intoxicating fusion of Bollywood pep & British wit, Polite Society is a riotously fun & rollicking ride brimming with energy, passion & ingenuity from beginning to end that mashes sisterly affection, parental disappointment & vibrant action into a wild, whacky & wicked extravaganza that's furthermore elevated by a star-making turn from its leading lady.

Written & directed by Nida Manzoor in her feature film debut, the story concerns a young desi teenager who embarks on an ambitious mission to save her older sister from her impending marriage. It's gripping from the get-go, thanks to its invigorating style, hits all the cultural beats that almost every desi kid can relate to, and unfolds with a chaotic fury that isn't without its warmth & wonder.

The characters are bestowed with depth & personality plus the dynamic that plays out between the sisters, friends & family makes for some fascinating drama & hearty laughs. Acting from the entire cast is top-notch, with Priya Kansara impressing the most with a dynamite performance that's got a bit of everything to it. The rest also chip in with strong support but this is Kansara's show all the way.

Overall, Polite Society is as unabashed & unapologetic as it is hilarious & heartfelt and is surely the cinematic surprise of the year for me. Flavoured to the max with desi spices, wholeheartedly embracing its moments of pure absurdity, and concluding with a downright bonkers yet extravagant finale, this action-comedy is an endearing, entertaining & effervescent delight that guarantees an amazing time & effortlessly delivers it.

From the largely positive critical reviews, I hoped for much better, but this is maladroit to the point of tedium. Working Title Films, the production company, has a fine record in comedy and action films such as 4 Weddings to which I couldn't help comparing this while I watched it. But the clunkiest line in that rom-com ("Is it raining? I hadn't noticed") is Wildean compared to the best here. The lead character, Ria Khan (Priya Kansara) repeats the trailer's echoed line "I am the fury" on numerous occasions, none of them funny or effective. Strangely, her character - well educated in a private school - seems to think that training to enter her desired career in movie stunts requires nothing apart from learning one martial art.

The plot is paper thin but confused, the humourless script is woefully underwritten - a rewrite by someone with expertise in this genre would have helped - and the direction is monotonous. Slow motion fight scenes are almost always dull and unimaginative, and here they force the energy out of the scene like a leaky balloon being squashed.

Acting from the two leads and the supports is occasionally adequate, often glaringly wooden. Recasting Priya Kansara should have been obvious from the first day of shooting.

The reaction from the audience when I viewed this was complete silence, not a laugh, gasp or giggle. What a shame.

A lot of original films are hitting theatres lately and I am not complaining. Polite Society is one that flew under the radar for me though, as I just heard about it about a month ago. I am happy I decided to try it because it was very enjoyable. I will ultimately recommend this film throughout my review, but I have to say up front that it still underwhelmed me upon reflection. Although not completely satisfying, here is why Polite Society deserves more attention.

Ria (Priya Kansara), a young woman who is aspiring to become a Hollywood stuntwoman, makes it her mission to stop her sister Lena's (Ritu Arya) marriage. She believes that Salim (Akshay Khanna), the man she will be marrying, is hiding some big family secrets. Told through a fun visual style, Polite Society feels like it is trying to be the next Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, but it definitely falls short of that. It's a simple story of a woman trying to prevent her sister from being married, but over-the-top fist fights and science labs are also a huge aspect of this film.

As much as I loved these characters and the story at hand was well-told, the style the filmmakers were going for was not utilized enough in my opinion. For such a simple premise, the crazy sequences sprinkled throughout the film were clearly meant to be fun and overdone on purpose. Sadly, everything I saw in the trailers is pretty much all I got from the final product. It never takes this great style and amplifies it, which made it seem like they were too afraid to push it too far. I would have walked out absolutely loving this film if they decided to go all in on the over-the-top stuff.

Polite Society is a great showcase for both Kansara and Khanna. I have not seen them perform much on-screen, but I will gladly watch any project they are attached to. Their chemistry with one another was infectious and their characters were also very well-written. I commend Nida Manzoor for both writing and directing this film, seeing as I believe the story and characters were very good, but I just wish she took bigger chances visually. Due to the fact that I believe this film did not reach its fullest potential, I will not say you have to rush out and see it in theatres, but I think it is more than good enough to eventually spend your time watching it once it is streaming. Polite Society is now playing in theatres.

A future beckons as a stuntwoman on the screen, you practice hard, you are determined and you're mean, enter stage left, an adversary, distracts your focus as he'll marry, your sister Lena, this is something unforeseen; as she had planned to be an artist and be free, an independent minded woman without decree, now Salim has left his mark, plus there's a feisty matriarch, stands in the way of the great futures, that could be; so you hatch a plan to sabotage the pairing, with assistance of two friends and lots of daring, making discoveries that alarm, that make you struggle to be calm, most of the time you feel especially despairing.

Priya Kansara is outstanding as Ria as she attempts to scupper her sisters marital arrangement.

On a whim, I watched Polite Society at the theater, being the best way to watch this movie due to the very good soundtrack. Priya Kansara and Ritu Arya play sisters that treat life with unorthodox flair. It took a few scenes to realize these girls had questionable decision-making abilities. A few scenes after that, there's a kung fu fight between Ria (Priya) and a school bully. From that point on, you know this movie doesn't take itself seriously. It's funny throughout, and they build on prior jokes with masterful precision. I had no expectations going in and came out a winner. This movie will make you smile. I've seen it a couple more times since, and each time I find something else that I missed the first time around. The plot is good, the soundtrack is great and acting, superb. Better than a "Marvel or a Star War".

I thought I knew what this movie was going to be about from the trailer but it has a nice twist to it that makes it like a sundae with a cherry on top.

Most importantly its about two girls from a certain culture dealing with the obstacles of their world that may try to stop them from the path they wish to choose. How cool is that right!? Even cooler is one girl's awesomely chose to be a stunt woman. The filmmakers could have done a funny coming of age story and kept it at that, but they really added something to this that will make it stand out.

It's a cliché jar of Kool Aide filled with a new flavor with a nice kick to it. Wonderful!

Between this film and "We Are Lady Parts," it seems impossible for Manzoor to hit a false note. Her characters are wonderfully engaging, demanding that you root for them. I enjoyed every minute of watching these women embrace their power. Hollywood take note: female audiences are hungry for more unapologetically strong, opinionated women. I only wish more female directors of color had opportunities to tell their stories. What a far more interesting place the world would be. I also loved the soundtrack. You can tell that Manzoor loves music the way she mixes genres to emphasize the story. What a great use of the X-ray Spex song "Identity."

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"Polite Society looks straight out of a comic book. Endlessly energetic, witty humor, and packed with pretty great stunts. Nida Manzoor's quick edits, slow-motion, and stylistic title cards make this a distinctively fun feature debut. Not perfect, but the over-the-topness of it all brought it home for me.

If the action doesn't really impress you or if the purposefully exaggerated tone is too much to handle, then this may not be for you. But if Manzoor's maximalist style conquers your full attention, then you'll hardly leave unsatisfied."

Rating: B.

I saw the trailers and really wanted to enjot this movie. After less than 45 minutes I was ready to leave.

It was unrealistic beyond what one could possibly accept with suspension of disbelief. There were good parts but they were few and far between

I found it to be slightly reminiscent of Sean of the Dead. I couldn't tell if the protagonist was a poor fit for the role or if the role was poorly written.

The dance scene was a joy to watch but does not make up for a pitiful plot. I have another 94 characters to use but have not much else to say.

If I could go back in time, then I never would have watched this movie.

As a film enthusiast, I recently watched "Polite Society," and I must say, I was thoroughly impressed with the movie. From the very first scene, the film grabbed my attention and built up to the midsection. Although there were moments when the momentum slowed down, it managed to recapture my interest in the end.

The film reminded me of a mix between "Bend It Like Beckham" and "Kill Bill" with its focus on a young woman pursuing her non-traditional dream and the women-led action scenes, albeit less violent. Despite the plot taking a backseat, the movie's main protagonist, Ria (Priya Kansara), stole my heart with her captivating performance. She managed to convey the struggles of a young woman trying to break free from societal expectations while remaining true to her culture and family.

I found Ria's relationship with her friends Clara (Seraphina Beh) and Alba (Ella Bruccoleri) to be adorable, and their banter was refreshing to hear. The film's exploration of social class differences was one of its strong points, providing a fresh and insightful take on these issues.

Overall, "Polite Society" is a sleeper hit of the summer that I would highly recommend. With its excellent cast, engaging storyline, and well-executed themes, it is a heartwarming and entertaining film that will resonate with audiences who enjoy stories of female empowerment and overcoming adversity.

Nida Manzoor's debut feature film gives off strong Bend It Like Beckham vibes, yet it stays unique in how it chooses to tell the story. The sisters (played by Priya Kansara and Ritu Arya) are total showstealers and I enjoyed both their performances. People aren't wrong in saying Polite Society looks straight out of Edgar Wright's playbook - it features rich and opaque frames, the presence of absurd humour (there's an entire fight scene between the sisters in the house, and none of the wounds from it show in the subsequent scenes), quirky edits & slo-mos, some flashy typeface, and the effective use of music - the only thing missing was a Simon Pegg cameo.

The reason why the writing works as much for men as it does for women is because it showcases the leading ladies (and their companions) thinking, reacting, and responding exactly how male characters would, in these overly cinematic situations. In some ways, it comes across as a sweet little 2000s throwback action-comedy, perceived through the quintessential feminist lens.

Polite Society is a great initiative towards brown community have to admit. A brown girl and a martial artist now that's a great catch but man did it lack the luster and the fury it could have been. I was rooting for this movie to knock me off my socks. The main lead, Ria I so wanted to cheer for her loudly especially being a brown girl myself but it lacked the fury she so "claimed" to have. She was all anger and self-anointed stunt woman but her moves were so childish in comparison. Someone who has learned martial arts myself her stunts looked a bit cartoonish to be honest. Storyline wasn't too bad but I wish they gave main lead a bit more character growth than an angry-ready to pick a fight-righteous self-proclaimed fury master.

Nida Manzoor's debut directorial is about two sisters - Ria Khan, who wants to be a stuntwoman and her elder sister Lena Khan, who has just quit art school. With her elder sister being her biggest supporter, Ria dreams of becoming a professional stuntwoman, waiting for a callback from her favorite stuntwoman. She even tries to standup to her bully at school and has two close friends. Trouble begins when her parents fix the marriage of Lena with Salim which Ria opposes. With Salim's shady mother Raheela giving enough reasons to Ria to make it her mission to save her sister, Ria tries everything she can to achieve that. Will she succeed and prove to be The Fury, forms rest of the story.

The plot is as silly as you expect to be but it is also as entertaining as you want it to be. Priya Kansara as Ria and Ritu Arya as Lena instantly connect, making it much easier to invest in the story. Within it's limits, the director goes berserk with the action scenes and ofcourse the 2nd best use of Maar Daala in a film to date. The film starts off on a solid note and is quite decent in it's second act with a desperate Ria but it is that all hell broke loose type final act that truly delivers. I definitely had fun watching this and would recommend it.